Last week we dropped the trans on my donor car while on jack stands by dropping the suspension and crossmember all together. My car is on a 4 post lift and currently the front of torque tube is unattached. My bellhousing and clutch are still out of the car. Is it possible to just drop the crossmember without the suspension with the car resting on all 4 wheels? I will have a tall trans jack for support and a helper. It looks like it can be done but want to check first.

 

nope the crossmember must be removed to drop the trans and that means the hubs as well

SO drop the Xmember,
then drop the trans,
then put the Xmember back in,
then you can roll the car,
tie the axles to a middle position so they can turn,
if your rolling the car,
the axles only need to be disconnected from the output flanges of the trans

NOTE it is also possible to drop the Xmember and leave the front of the lower control arms connected then drop the trans you might need a helper or two to assist with the trans drop though

 

A little miss communication. I would like to be able to drop the crossmember only to remove the trans and leave the susp, hubs etc in place. Can this be done with the car sitting on all 4 wheels on a lift? I figure I can drop the trans with the TT, reconnect the TT back to the new trans when on the ground and lift it back in with the tall jack. Then all we have to do is put the crossmember back up. I would like to avoid using jack stands while the car is on the lift.

 

No. The rear hubs mount to the lower control arm that is majorly supported by the crossmember.

You need a lift that raises the car at the jackpoints, else the car needs to be on 4 rather tall jackstands (6 ton units at 2/3 extension).

 

Four post lifts are mostly just for extra parking and oil changes.......

 

Try to save all the NLA antilock brake sensors if you can, Doug, including for the front.

 

A previous owner has stripped all the ABS stuff from the car including the pump. The wiring at the calipers is just tied up around the control arms. Guess it wasn't working so he removed it.

 

Doug: I believe that is exactly what Chris is talking about. Carefully pry the sensors out of the brake pad. If you get them out intact, and the contact wires haven't already worn through, they can be reused.

 

The abs sensors aren't in the pads, they are mounted to the hubs. Even if the wiring is wrecked the sensors might be good for someone.

 

I am not seeing any sensors at all. Where would they be on a '84 Euro? The wiring looped up is actually from an old broken pad sensor.

 

Here's one.
Front of Euro 84 5spd

 

Does everything need to come off to access it?

 

I think they mount from the back, probably a threaded base.

 

ABS was option M593 in '84-85 ROW cars. Do you have it?

 

empty holes where they should be. I guess they were stripped by a previous owner.